RAAPTR Proposers Day
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will host an in-person Proposers Day for the RF Architectures Applying Photonic Timing and Routing (RAAPTR) program on June 16, 2026, in Arlington, VA. This event is a Special Notice, not a formal solicitation, designed to introduce the RAAPTR program vision, facilitate interaction among researchers, encourage teaming, and gather community feedback. DARPA anticipates releasing the RAAPTR Program Solicitation (PS) sometime after the Proposers Day.
Program Overview
The RAAPTR program aims to develop RF system architectures that employ and maintain optical timing precision in compact mobile defense platforms. The program is structured into two phases over 42 months:
- Phase 1 (24 months): Component development and RF system architecture design.
- Phase 2 (18 months): Integration of components into a brassboard prototype.
Key technical areas include vibration-hardened photonic oscillators, ancillary analog and mix-signal components, and architecture-centric design leveraging photonics for frequency synthesizers, clocks, data transfer, and digital algorithms. Specific performance metrics for oscillators and architecture are detailed, covering phase noise, timing deviation, output power, volume, power consumption, and vibration resistance.
Proposers Day Details
- Date: June 16, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Amentum Services, Inc., 4121 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22203
- Registration Deadline: June 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
- Registration Website: https://cvent.me/PNeWPr
Attendees can register for 5-minute presentation slots (first 20 requests) or poster sessions (first 30 requests) to showcase capabilities and facilitate teaming. One-on-one sidebar meetings with the Program Manager are also available. Attendance is voluntary and does not obligate participation in future solicitations; no reimbursement for costs incurred.
Next Steps
The RAAPTR Program Solicitation (PS) is anticipated to be released after the Proposers Day and will be made available on SAM.gov. Eligibility is open to registered potential proposers, with specific registration and visit request procedures for U.S. Citizens and foreign nationals.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice (Proposers Day)
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Published Date: May 29, 2026
- Registration Due: June 8, 2026